ROBERT FLECK was once Chelsea’s record transfer buy and even played at a World Cup for Scotland.
But the former footballer packed it all in to become a teaching assistant.
Fleck, 60, started his career with Rangers, scoring 29 goals in 85 league outings.
It secured a move to Norwich in 1987, where Fleck became a club hero with 39 strikes in 143 matches.
The striker helped Norwich to two FA Cup semis and, during that time, represented Scotland at the 1990 World Cup.
He then secured a controversial move to Chelsea in 1992 for a club-record £2.1million fee after going on strike at Carrow Road.
Fleck was unable to make a success of his Stamford Bridge spell though, scoring just three goals in 40 games.
After loans at Bolton and Bristol City, he returned to Norwich in 1995.
Fleck scored a further 16 goals in 104 games, making him the club’s fourth all-time leading scorer, before departing for Reading three years later.
Upon retiring with injury in 1999, he had a brief spell in management with Norfolk side Gorleston.
But Fleck’s football is now firmly in the past, as the former star has dedicated himself to a role as a teaching assistant for children with complex needs.
He loves his role at the Parkside School in Norwich.
Fleck first started running coaching sessions for the school’s children before moving into teaching and pastoral care.
Of his new career, he told EDP24 in 2016: “I love it. I really enjoy helping the children, whether it’s working with them in the classroom or with life skills out in the city.
“I try to make things fun. Life doesn’t have to be too serious. I try and bring a bit of sunshine.
“I would never, ever have thought I would be working in a school, I hated school.
“I wasn’t very good at anything except sport so I’m still learning now. It’s great and more important than football.
“I could never sit still, and here you are on the move all day.
“It’s always busy, there’s always something going on.”
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